Race against time on €6m Athlone flood defence plan

Westmeath County Council could face a race against time to have made significant progress by next winter on a €6m flood defence plan for Athlone.

Mayor of Athlone Cllr John Dolan has urged the council and the Office of Public Works to speed up work on the plan
“The process needs to be sped up now. While everything has to be done properly and everything has to be transparent, we need this work to start immediately,” he insisted.
At present, the council is finalising the selection of a consultant to work on detailed designs for the defences, funding for which was announced last October.
Following the completion of the design, the detailed plan must go through a public consultation system, known as the Part 8 process, by which a local authority seeks planning permission for work it is progressing.
The plan must firstly be brought before a council meeting, and followed by an eight-week public consultation phase.
Final approval then has to be sought at another council meeting.
The work will then be carried out by the OPW itself, removing the need for public procurement process for a contractor.
Cllr Dolan said the council believed it would have work underway this year. 

See today's paper for full story.